Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Sustainable Chemistry One World, cilt.10, 2026 (Scopus)
Membrane distillation (MD) is a promising high-performance desalination technology limited by its high energy consumption. Harnessing alternative energy sources such as solar, waste heat, along with effective heat recovery, can significantly reduce both energy demand and operational costs. In addition, optimizing the feed solution heating temperature is essential, as it directly affects transmembrane flux (TMF), effluent quality, and overall cost efficiency. In this study, the effect of feed solution temperature on the energy performance and cost-effectiveness of MD was investigated using Marmara seawater and an 0.45 µm pore size hydrophobic PTFE membrane. Experiments were conducted at feed temperatures of 60 °C, 70 °C, 80 °C, and 90 °C, resulting in TMFs of 10.56, 15.37, 25.14, and 33.15 kg·m⁻²·h⁻¹, and corresponding thermal energy consumptions of 374.9, 377.3, 379.5, and 382.2 kWh·m⁻³, respectively. The results indicated that 60 °C offered the highest cost-effectiveness, whereas 80 °C provided the best balance between TMF, energy efficiency, effluent quality and membrane integrity. Furthermore, incorporating a heat conservation layer into the heating tank reduced thermal energy demand by over 24%. Overall, optimizing feed solution temperature and improving the design of the MD module and heating system present practical strategies for enhancing system performance and cost efficiency.